While census figures can provide insights on the divorce rate in the United States, its fluctuations don't tell us how Americans actually feel about divorce. When asked to gauge the opinions of their fellow Americans, nine in ten U.S. adults (88%) estimate that Americans believe divorce is acceptable. However, when asked about their own personal feelings on the matter, only 58% of Americans say they themselves believe it's acceptable.

This disconnect is even more apparent when considering that 55% said Americans in general believe divorce is very acceptable, but less than half that (27%) actually feel that way. In addition, as some might expect, those who describe themselves as religious are less likely to find divorce acceptable than those who do not see themselves this way (52% vs. 68%, respectively).

Moreover, an overwhelming majority of U.S. adults (84%) believe the idea of divorce is more acceptable today than it was in previous generations. Of those who feel this way, a 45% plurality perceive this as a bad thing, while 15% think it is good, and 33% feel neutral toward it.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,255 U.S. adults surveyed online between December 10 and 15, 2014.

Attorneys can use advertising to educate couples on acceptance levels and shine a positive light on the positive aspects of choosing divorce. The new AudienceSCAN study showed 6.4% of Americans expect to pay for attorney or legal services in the next 12 months.

When to call it quits

When shown a list of possible reasons why a couple might divorce, a two-​thirds majority of Americans feel divorce is unequivocally the best option in cases of domestic abuse (66%), with no conflict/​resolution attempts expected. Meanwhile, in the cases of substance abuse, gambling addiction, and infidelity, pluralities of Americans believe the couple should at least attempt to resolve the conflict before filing for divorce (50%, 48%, & 45% respectively).

For couples struggling with sexual issues/​dysfunction, Americans are torn between whether the couple should attempt to resolve the conflict before filing for divorce (39%) or whether the couple should be able to resolve the conflict without pursuing divorce at all (40%). Finally, the situations where the highest percentages of Americans expect that the couple should be able to resolve the conflict without pursuing divorce are:

• Inability to conceive/​infertility (51%)
• Long-​term illnesses or other conditions placing one spouse in the caretaker role (48%)
• Inability to agree on how to parent children (47%)
• Long-​term illnesses or other conditions placing one spouse in permanent care outside the home (45%)
• Religious differences (43%), and
• Inability to agree on whether to have children or number of children (42%).

Advertising can focus on these "more acceptable" reasons for divorce to appeal to Legal Service Clients. The new AudienceSCAN survey found clients are 41% more likely than average Americans to take action after seeing TV (over-​the-​air, online, mobile or tablet) commercials.

Dealing with differences

Strong majorities agree that a couple should need to prove they've attempted to resolve their issues before citing irreconcilable differences (77%).

Moreover, seventy-​three percent agree that a couple should attend marriage counseling before they marry. Perhaps in light of personal experiences, adults who have previously been divorced at least once are more likely to agree with this preventative measure than those who have never been divorced (78% vs. 72% respectively).

And turning to a more extreme measure, over four in ten (43%) adults agree there should be a limit on how many times an individual can petition for divorce. Perhaps not surprisingly, this rule is more appealing to adults who have never been divorced (45%) as opposed to those who have (37%).

Law firms might consider partnering with marriage counselors and emphasizing this partnership in ad campaigns. According to the new AudienceSCAN research results, 66% of Legal Service Clients took action after hearing radio (over-​the-​air, online, mobile or tablet) advertising.

Hope for the future

So what about the kids? Seven in ten adults (71%) believe that having parents who are divorced is better for children than having parents who are together but unhappy. Interestingly, children of divorce are more likely to share that sentiment (82%) than Americans who haven't experienced the divorce of their parents (68%).

Moreover, there is still a light at the end of the tunnel not just for the children but also for the divorcees. A strong majority of U.S. adults (86%) say they would be open to dating a one-​time divorcee (assuming both parties were single at the time). And those with multiple marriages under their belts need not worry either since half of Americans (49%) would be open to dating someone who has been divorced multiple times (also assuming both were single).

AudienceSCAN data is available as part of a subscription to AdMall for Agencies, or with the SalesFuel API. Media companies can access AudienceSCAN data through the AudienceSCAN Reports in AdMall.